Experiences in Ticino

The sanctuary of Madonna del Sasso in Orselina above Locarno is the most famous place of pilgrimage in the Italian part of Switzerland. It is rooted in the ancient tradition of votive gifts.

Located between Monte San Salvatore and Monte Arbostora at an altitude of just under 700 metres, the botanical gardens are a mecca for park visitors and plant lovers – particularly in April and May, when the azaleas and rhododendrons form a fragrant carpet.

The park surrounding the Villa dei Cedri, which today is home to the Municipal Museum for Modern and Contemporary Art, is a living example of an English-style park of the 19th century. A further attraction is the vineyard behind the villa, whose grapes are used to produce the popular Merlot.

The ruins of the old Craveggia baths are easy to reach on foot from Spruga, though you will have to wade across the Isorno because the spa is located on Italian soil on the other side of the river.

The idyllic Brissago Islands lie off the western shore of the upper part of Lake Maggiore. The larger island delights visitors with its unique botanical gardens and splendid manor house. On the Isola Piccola are the ruins of the medieval church of Sant'Apollinare.

The Muggio Valley was once very nearly abandoned, but precisely because the locals place importance on their past, it now lives on into the future as an open-air museum.

The San Michele Park sits high above Lugano and offers spectacular views of the city, the lake and the mountains. The typically southern vegetation is sure to thrill many of its visitors too.

This magnificent botanical garden is set on the Gambarogno side of Lago Maggiore, on the hillside terrace between Piazzogna and Vairano. Here, the Parco Botanico del Gambarogno foundation lavishes endless love and skill on the over 17,000 square metres of gorgeously colourful plants.

The lowest and highest points in Switzerland at a glance: Lake Maggiore to the south and the Valais Alps with the Dufourspitze to the west. All just five minutes from the city of Locarno. This is the Cardada mountain.

One pass, six museums. The Ascona-Locarno region is a cultural hot spot.

At Lake Lugano, it is wonderfully easy to escape one’s daily routine: by enjoying a sunbath below palm trees, cruises on the lake or hiking tours through magnificent landscapes.

This wellness complex is both a place for coming together and a place of rest and relaxation. The complex is known in particular for its unique lakeside location as well as its architecture.

Just a 15-minute walk from Ascona rises the 321 metre tall Monte Verità. The panoramic view of the village and the Lago Maggiore is fantastic – just like the story of the eccentrics from around the world who established an early hippy colony here in 1900. This spirit can still be seen today in the hotel, in the museum – and while strolling through the park.

Suspension Rope Park at the middle station of the Monte Tamaro. A fascinating acrobatic course situated in a hundred-year-old beech forest.

A trip to the Breggia Gorges is a real time travelling experience. In this part of the Mendrisiotto along the Breggia River you will find some unusual geological formations.

Take the gondola up to Alpe Foppa on Monte Tamaro. At the top, the toboggan run, rope park and tyrolienne are waiting for you. On the high-altitude trail you hike to Monte Lema with a view of Ticino lakes and Alpine peaks.

At the southern end of Lake Lugano is the 1,704 metre high Monte Generoso. This lofty altitude makes it without a doubt the best mountain for views in the canton of Ticino.

Lake Maggiore extends from the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland far into the Italian regions of Piedmont and Lombardy. Thanks to its mild climate, there is lush, Mediterranean vegetation along its shores. In the hinterland is a wild and romantic mountain landscape with breathtaking views.

At Swissminiatur in Melide you can walk through Switzerland in miniature. Discover over 130 models of Swiss buildings, take a look behind the scenes in the studio and test your knowledge of Switzerland on Rudy's quiz course.

Experience the special atmosphere of a restaurant combined with one of the largest indoor miniature golf courses in Switzerland, set in a landscape of subtropical plants.

More than 100 animals from all over the world are at home in the Zoo al Maglio to marvel at. These include lions, panthers, snow leopards, serval, the Bennett wallaby, gibbons, macaques and capuchin monkeys as well as parrots.

Take the funicular to the San Salvatore in Ticino and enjoy the view of Lake Lugano, the Alps and all the way to the Po Valley. Combine the funicular ride with a hike and a boat trip.

Stand on the 220-meter-high wall from which James Bond threw himself in "GoldenEye". Hike through picturesque villages and enjoy the view of the emerald Lago di Vogorno. History, panorama and the Ticino way of life combined.

Sit on one of the steepest funiculars in the world and ride from Piotta up to Val Piora in 12 minutes. At the top, the turquoise-blue Lake Ritom, alpine hiking trails and a fascinating Ticino mountain landscape await you.

Climb the towers of Castel Grande and continue hiking to Montebello and Sasso Corbaro. In the Bellinzona Fortress you walk over crenellated walls, look out over the Alps and stand in the best-preserved castle complex in the Alpine region.

The Lugano swimming resort "Lido", a place which everyone loves in Lugano, has managed to preserve its attractiveness and charm throughout years.

The stunning Camellia Park in Locarno has more than 850 different camellia varieties, with a flowering period of nine months. A little slice of paradise not only for those who love camellias, but for all those looking for a bit of peace and quiet in the heart of the city.

The summer toboggan run above Lugano surprises visitors not only with a high fun factor but also with a magnificent view of the valley.

It’s hardly surprising that the Vigezzina-Centovalli Railway passes over 83 marvellous bridges and viaducts along its route from Locarno to Domodossola. Before this panoramic route was built, the “hundred valleys” were still completely untouched. Whether in spring, passing thundering waterfalls, or during a golden Indian summer – a trip on the Vigezzina-Centovalli Railway is an experience in itself.

Tassino Park, a glorious haven of peace, is graced with lush vegetation thanks to its sun-drenched position. If you like roses and English-style gardens then this is the place for you. What is now Tassino Park was at one time the hunting lodge of the wealthy Enderlin family, who in the 19th century were the owners of a beautiful villa on the hill of Tassino.